Streetcar Fort Worth Statement on Federal Transit Administration Grant
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Streetcar Project is Investment in Fort Worth’s Future
Fort Worth, Texas – July 9, 2010 – The City of Fort Worth’s efforts to create a modern streetcar network were recognized yesterday by Federal transportation officials who awarded the City of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority with a $25 million grant for a 2.5 mile starter line in the central city. Fort Worth and five other cities, including Dallas, were selected to receive Urban Circulator grants totaling $ 297 million, out of 61 applications totaling $1 billion.
The grant is a strong endorsement by the Federal Transit Administration of the city’s efforts to develop an integrated, comprehensive transportation system that would meet local and federal air quality goals, improve access to jobs, and generate economic development. Considering that the final plan for the starter project won’t be completed until the city’s feasibility study is delivered later this year, the $25 million FTA grant is further evidence that the project’s goals are closely aligned with federal funding priorities. That study will prescribe the starter route as well as a detailed business plan that specifies the use of the grant funds and identifies other complementary funding sources. One of those sources is likely to be future tax revenue from new development along the streetcar line.
The FTA Urban Circulator program is part of the Obama Administration’s Livability Initiative, a joint venture of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. All three federal agencies have regional offices in Fort Worth and Dallas.
The $25 million federal grant will require a 20 percent local match, or $5 million. After witnessing firsthand the economic impact of modern streetcar systems in other U.S. cities, streetcar supporters feel Fort Worth can’t afford not to take advantage of this opportunity, and that elected officials should prioritize public and private dollars for the securing the local match. Potential funding sources include federal funds administered by the North Central Texas Council of Governments, such as the Surface Transportation Program and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program, which are eligible to cover the 20% local match.
The grant is a crucial first step in establishing a network of modern streetcars serving the central city of Fort Worth. The goal of the streetcar network is to enhance walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods in the urban core and provide the critical “last mile” for regional and local transit commuters using the TRE and other T services.
This project is also anticipated to accelerate economic redevelopment and mixed-income housing opportunities in the region and create mixed-use and high-density residential and commercial infill development on many underutilized blocks of Fort Worth’s central city.
The modern streetcar system is for passengers throughout Fort Worth’s central city, providing linkages between walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods in the urban core, two intermodal transportation centers, downtown employers, academic institutions, and potentially the hospital district. The streetcar network would also extend the ability of employees, residents, and visitors to walk throughout the city center of Fort Worth.
According to federal officials, Fort Worth’s modern streetcar application was selected because FTA believes the project has a lot of promise, including the ability to increase regional access to jobs from disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Contact:
Streetcar Fort Worth, Inc.
1208 W. Magnolia
Suite 212
Fort Worth, TX 76104
info@streetcarfortworth.com
